GRAMMAR DETAIL
くなる
Follows an adjective stem to express a change in a quality or state from how it was before.
Examples
秋になって日が急に短くなった。
With the arrival of fall, the days suddenly grew shorter.
Words used
冬になると、日が短くなる。
When winter comes, the days get shorter.
Words used
Study notes
1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning
- Structure: Change an i-adjective's final
いtoく, then addなる. - Basic usage:
日が短くなるdescribes the days becoming shorter than before.
2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions
- Changing and making a change
音が小さくなるdescribes sound becoming quieter, while音を小さくするdescribes someone lowering it. Subject and object marking also differ withなるandする.
- Adjective class
- Apply the pattern to i-adjectives, as in
寒い → 寒くなる. A na-adjective gives静かになる, while irregularいいgivesよくなる.
- Apply the pattern to i-adjectives, as in